Head gate

ABSTRACT

A head gate for restraining animals, including a pair of spaced frame members pivotally mounted on a base and having gate members attached thereto adapted to engage an animal therebetween when the gate members are in a closed position. A pair of crossed, rigid connecting arms are connected to the upper portion of the frame members to provide synchronous pivotal movement of the frame members in opposite directions in response to pivotal displacement of one of the frame members to open and close the gate members. Locking means are provided to prevent pivotal displacement of the gate members to prevent opening of the gate members.

United States Patent 1 1 Swenson June 4, 1974 Primary Examiner-James H. Czerwonky 5 7 ABSTRACT A head gate for restraining animals, including a pair of spaced frame members pivotally mounted on a base and having gate members attached thereto adapted to engage an animal therebetween when the gate members are in a closed position. A pair of crossed, rigid connecting arms are connected to the upper portion of the frame members to provide synchronous pivotal movement of the frame members in opposite directions in response to pivotal displacement of one of the frame members to open and close the gate members. Locking means are provided to prevent pivotal displacement of the gate members to prevent opening of the gate members.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures I '1' I 41 I g 1 32 3 i 80 2a" 1.. 2 Hm? 22 I 2 7 80 62 '70 1 1k 14 Q E [121 52 '1 1 I l t 42 i l 1 48 l V .l

1 821 1 l 20 '3 V f 50 i 7 3 I 52 1a 1 i 1 HEAD GATE This invention relates to apparatus for use in the handling of livestock, and more particularly to a headgate for temporarily engaging and restraining livestock.

I-leadgates for use in the handling of livestock are well known to those skilled in the art. Such headgates generally include a frame on which there are mounted a pair of generally vertical gate, members which are adapted to be displaced toward each other to engage the neck of an animal. In use, the animal is engaged by displacing the gate members toward each other whereby the gates close about the animals body, usually about the neck, to prevent the animal from withdrawing his head from between the gate members. Such headgates and theiruse are described in US. Pat. Nos. 2,566,013, 2,969,770 and 3,221,707. i

As is described in US. Pat. No. 3,221,707, the movement of the gate members is frequently actuated and controlled by a series of cables. Such cables render the apparatus not only difficult to actuate by a single operator, but also tend towear rapidly, necessitating frequent replacement.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a headgate which overcomes the foregoing disadvantages, and it is a more specific object of the invention to provide a headgate which is simple in construction and which can be easily operated bya single operator quickly and simply.

It is a related object of this invention to provide a headgate in which the use of cables is completely avoided and in which the gate is completely self locking to prevent escape of the animal.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter and, for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a headgate embodying the features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the headgate shown in FIG. 1 with the drive means exposed;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the frame members of the headgate of FIGS. 1 and 2;

. FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the frame assembly of the headgate of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the frame assembly and gate members of the headgate of FIGS. 1 to 4;

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of the latch assembly of the headgate of FIGS. 1 to 5; and

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the drive means shown in FIG. 2.

The concepts of the present invention reside in a headgate which includes a pair of spaced swinging frame members which are pivotally mounted on a base and to which there are attached a pair of opposing gate members for pivotal movement with the frame members toward each other for the closed position and away from each other for the open position. Each of the frame members is fixed to the other for synchronous pivotal movement relative to the base to open and close the gate members by a pair of crossed, rigid connecting arms whereby the displacement of oneof the frame members in a pivotal movement relative to the base results in the displacement of the other of the frame members in a pivotal movement in the opposite direction.

Each of the frame members is provided with gate members connected thereto, with at least one of the gate members being biased away from the frame member to which it is attached to adjust the tension of the gate members when an animal is engaged therebetween. Thus, one of the frame members is caused to be pivoted in one direction to open the gate members and in the other direction to close the gate members.

The headgate of this invention also includes a locking and release assembly to prevent the escape of an animal engaged between the gate members. The locking assembly employed in the practice of this invention includes a pair of spaced, opposing flange members which are pivotally mounted to engage the gate members in the closed position in the space defined between the flange members. When it is desired to open the gate, one of the flange members is raised above the gate members to permit the gate members to be pivoted with the frame members in a direction toward the flange member which has been raised.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown an overall view of a headgate embodying the features of the invention. The headgate includes a suitable base which can be of any configuration upon which there is mounted'a pair of spaced, upstanding frame members 12 and 14 in the form of tubular members which are pivotally mounted in collars I6 and 18, respectively. The frame also includes a pair of spaced stationary members 20 and 22 which are also mounted on the base 10 to provide the desired structural rigidity of the headgate.

The upper portions of pivotal frame members'l2 and 14 are supported by a pair of collars 24 and 26, in which the frame members 12 and 14, respectively, are pivotally mounted. The frame also includes a cross member 28 which is connected to each of the collars 24 and 26. Rigidity of the structure is assured by horizontal frame members 30 and 32 which connect collar 24 with stationary member 20, and collar 26 with stationary member 22, respectively.

The upper portions of pivotal frame members 12 and 14 which extend above the collars 24 and 26, respectively, are provided with a pair of lever arms 34 and 36 fixed to the frame members 12 and 14, respectively. The lever arms 34 and 36 are connected each to the other by a pair of crossed rigid connector arms 38 and '40 which provide the desired synchronous movement of the pivotal frame members 12 and 14. Thus, when one of the pivotal frame members 12 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction relative to the base 10 by way of, for example, a lever 42 fixed thereto for that purpose, the other frame member 14 is caused to pivot in a clockwise direction. Both frame members are pivoted in opposite directions simultaneously through the same distance. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the lever 42 can be mounted on either pivotal frame member 12 by way of mounting bracket 44 or on frame member 14 by way of mounting bracket 44'. The connector arms are preferably protected by means of a cover 41.

Attached to pivotal frame member 12 is a gate member 46 which is preferably provided with a portion 48 which is bowed outward to accommodate an animal. Gate member 46 is attached to pivotal frame member 12 by telescoping tube members 50 and 52.

Pivotal frame member 14 is likewise provided with a gate member 54 which corresponds to the gate member 46 attached to pivotal frame member 12, including a portion 56 which is bowed outwardly. The details of the gate members are shown in greater detail in FIG. 2 of the drawing. One of the gate members 54 is spring tensioned to permit adjustment of the tension between the gate members 46 and 54. Thus, tubular members 58 are provided with spring means 60 which are adapted to be telescoped in tubular members 62 fixed to the pivotal frame member 14. The spring means '60 and tubular members 58 are retained in tubular members 62 by means of retaining bolts 64 engaged with bracket 66. Tension on the spring means 60 can be adjusted by adjusting the retaining bolts 64 and by adjusting the portions of bolts 68 which limit the depth of penetration of spring means 60 in tubular members 62. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, either or both of the gate members 46 and 54 can be spring loaded in this fashion as desired, although it is generally preferred that only one gate member be spring loaded.

The details of the locking or latch assembly are illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6 of the drawing. As can be seen from these figures, the latching assembly includes a pair of opposing spaced flange members 70 and 72 which are pivotally mounted on a support plate 74 fixed to the cross member 28 to engage both of the gate 7 members 46 and 54 in the space defined between the flange members 70 and 72.

At least one and preferably both of the flange members is spring biased downwardly in engagement'with the gate members by spring means 76 mounted on bolt means 78 between each of the flange members 70 and 72 and the support plate 74. The bolt means extend upwardly through the support plate 74 and are fixed to handles 80 and 80 which are pivotally mounted on the cross. member 28. Thus, pulling one of the handles 80 and 80' downwardly serves to raise the flange member to which it is attached above the upper portions of the gate members to permit the gate members to be pivoted outwardly toward the flange member which has been raised to open the headgate. Since the flange members are normally biased downwardly to prevent pivotal movement of the 'gate members, the animal engaged between the gate members is prevented from extricating himself therefrom. Arm 82, which may be mounted to either frame member 12 or 14, is employed for holding the head of an animal in such operations as dehorning. I

' In use, a single operator simply pulls downwardly on one of the handles 80 and 80' which operates to raise the flange member 70 from engagement with the upper portions of the gate members 46 and 54. Thereafter, the operator displaces the lever 42 in a counterclockwise direction to pivot both of the pivotal frame members 12 and 14 and their corresponding gate members 46 and 54, respectively, outwardly from the plane of the drawing to open the gate. To close the gate, the

operator simply pivots the frame'member 12 in the opposite direction; the flange 70 rests on top of the gate members while the latter are in the op'en'position and is automatically returned to the locking position when the gate members 46 and 54 clear the flange member 70 to secure an animal therebetween.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the gate members can likewise be opened in the opposite direction bydepressing the handle 80 and then actuating the lever 42 to pivot the gate members downwardly from the plane of the drawing.

The head gate of the present invention has been found to be remarkably durable over extended periods of use; it can'be operated quickly and efficiently by a single operatonThe use of rigidconnect'or'arms in accordance with the invention insures-trouble-free operation as compared to headgates of the prior art which employ cables and the like. I

It will be understood that various changes and modifications can be made in the details of construction, procedure and use without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined byvthe following claims. w 1

I claim: 1

l. A head gate comprising abase, a pair ofspaced swinging frame members extending upwardly from the base and being pivotally mounted thereon, gate members attached to the frame members for pivotal movement therewith and adapted to engage an animal therebetween when the gate members are in a closed position, a pair of crossed, rigid connecting arms, the ends of which being each connected to the upper portion of both frame members to provide synchronous pivotal motion of theframe members in opposite directions in response to pivotal displacement of one of the frame members to open and close the gate members, means mounted on one of theframe members to pivotally displace said one of said frame members,and locking means to prevent pivotal displacement of the gate members to thereby prevent opening of the gate members.

2. A head gate'as defined in claim 1 wherein said first mentioned means includes lever means mounted on one of the frame members to effect pivotal displacement thereof. v

3. A head gate comprising a base; a pair of spaced swinging frame members extending upwardly from the base and being pivotally'mounted thereon; gate members attached to the frame members for pivotal movement therewith and adapted to engage an animal therebetween when the gate members are in a closed position; a pair of crossed, rigid connecting arms, the ends of which being each connected to the upper portion of the frame members to provide synchronous pivotal motion of the frame members in opposite directions in response to pivotal displacement of one of the frame members to. open and close the gate members; means mounted on one of the frame members to pivotally displace said one of said frame members; and locking means to prevent pivotal displacement of the gate members to thereby prevent opening of the gate mem bers and including a pair of opposing pivotally mounted flange members defining a spacetherebetween adapted to engage the gate members in the space when the gate members are in the closed position and means to raise one of the flange members from engagement with the gate members to permit the gate members to be pivoted toward said one of the flange members as the gate members are opened.

,7 4. A head gate as defined in claim 3 wherein the means to raise one of the flange members includes a handle mounted above the flangemember, said handle being operatively connected to the flange member to raise the flange member as the handle is depressed.

' 5. A head gate as defined in claim 3 wherein the locking means includes spring means biasing the flange member toward engagement with the gate members.

Y 6. A head gate as defined in claim 3 which includes spring means mounted on one of the frame members to adjust the tensionon one of the gate members. 

1. A head gate comprising a base, a pair of spaced swinging frame members extending upwardly from the base and being pivotally mounted thereon, gate members attached to the frame members for pivotal movement therewith and adapted to engage an animal therebetween when the gate members are in a closed position, a pair of crossed, rigid connecting arms, the ends of which being each connected to the upper portion of both frame members to provide synchronous pivotal motion of the frame members in opposite directions in response to pivotal displacement of one of the frame members to open and close the gate members, means mounted on one of the frame members to pivotally displace said one of said frame members, and locking means to prevent pivotal displacement of the gate members to thereby prevent opening of the gate members.
 2. A head gate as defined in claim 1 wherein said first mentioned means includes lever means mounted on one of the frame members to effect pivotal displacement thereof.
 3. A head gate comprising a base; a pair of spaced swinging frame members extending upwardly from the base and being pivotally mounted thereon; gate members attached to the frame members for pivotal movement therewith and adapted to engage an animal therebetween when the gate members are in a closed position; a pair of crossed, rigid connecting arms, the ends of which being each connected to the upper portion of the frame members to provide synchronous pivotal motion of the frame members in opposite directions in response to pivotal displacement of one of the frame members to open and close the gate members; means mounted on one of the frame members to pivotally displace said one of said frame members; and locking means to prevent pivotal displacement of the gate members to thereby prevent opening of the gate members and including a pair of opposing pivotally mounted flange members defining a space therebetween adapted to engage the gate members in the space when the gate members are in the closed position and means to raise one of the flange members from engagement with the gate members to permit the gate members to be pivoted toward said one of the flange members as the gate members are opened.
 4. A head gate as defined in claim 3 wherein the means to raise one of the flange members includes a handle mounted above the flange member, said handle being operatively connected to the flange member to raise the flange member as the handle is depressed.
 5. A head gate as defined in claim 3 wherein the locking means includes spring means biasing the flange member toward engagement with the gate members.
 6. A head gate as defined in claim 3 which includes spring means mounted on one of the frame members to adjust the tension on one of the gate members. 